The dredge report

Residents air complaint about shallow creek

December 3, 2012

HANOVER - Several Hanover residents have taken the task of securing funding for dredging Cattaraugus Creek upon themselves.

These residents came to a previous Hanover Town Board meeting to complain to the board about the shallow condition of the creek which hinders fishing by not allowing boats to pass.

After this announcement and an informal blessing from the board to look into funding the project, the groups attended the board's most recent meeting to give an update and make a request.

Article Photos

OBSERVER Photo by Matt PanebiancoResidents complained to the Hanover Town Board recently about shallow conditions in Cattaraugus Creek.

Ed Schintzius spoke on behalf of the initiative. He asked the board to authorize Highway Superintendent Steve D'Angelo to seek out permits and grants for the project.

D'Angelo said he was in charge of this the last time the creek was dredged about 10 years ago.

Schintzius explained since the last time the creek was dredged by the Army Corps of Engineers, sediment has gathered in spots making it as shallow as 2 feet.

He said boats need at least 3 feet to pass, which hinders the fishing that can be done in the area as well as not helping the flooding problem.

He said in addition to himself, Jim Tunney, Richard Berner, D'Angelo, Town Councilman Kevin O'Connell and County Legislator George Borrello will work toward this goal.

The board authorized this and said they are in support of the group's mission.

"I would like thank Mr. Schintzius, Mr. Tunney and Mr. Berner for assuming a community leadership role and seeing something that needs to be done and looking for ways for it to happen. It's an excellent idea and it's long overdue," O'Connell said.

Borrello said he also supports the group and will try to set up a meeting with Assemblyman Andy Goodell help get the word out about the problem.

The Hanover Board will next meet on Dec. 10.

In other business:

Councilman Wayne Ashley reported getting an estimated cost for the monuments for the proposed veterans memorial. He said Riles and Woolley quoted a price of $7,400-7,600 for the monument which would include three branches of the military, an MIA/POW part and a general veterans part. He also reported a cost of $15-20 for two lines engraved on bricks from the funeral home. He said he thought the town should open a separate account in order to collect donations for the project. The board agreed and Ashley said he would keep the town updated on the project's progress.

The board is considering a new definition of an "addition" in the zoning law. The board will receive input from the planning and zoning board and the code enforcement officer before calling a public hearing to amend the law.